Improvement in revolving harrows



G. J OLENDORF.

Revolving Harrow NO. 15,151. Patental lfine 17, 1856.

AM. PHOTO-LITHO. C0 N.V. (OSBORNE'C PROCESS) UNITED; STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GARRET J. OLENDORF, OF MIDDLEFIELD, NEW

IMPROVEMENT IN REVOLVING HARROWS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. l 5,15 l, dated June 17, 18-56.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GARRET T. OLENDORF, of the town of Middlefield, in the county of Otsego and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Machine for Harrowing Land, which I calla Revolving Harrow, and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the cons-truction and operation of the same, reference being had to the annexed drawings, makingapart of this specification,in which- Figure l isa perspective view from the back when in operation,with the box removed, showing the driving-wheels, cylinder, and crossbars. Fig. 2 is a back View with the box on when in operation, showing the box, drivingwheels, part of the cylinder, and the edge of the circle-plates, which form the inner surface of the driving-wheels. Fig. 3 is an end view with theouter face and circle plates of the driving-wheel removed to show the internal arrangement when in operation. Fig. 4 is the same view as Fig. 3with the cylinderelevated from the ground, showing the position in which it is placed while it is drawn from one place to another, also showing the hearing of the pinions on the cylinder-shaft with the ratchet wheel left out. Fig. 5 is a. view of the pinion and ratchet with the ratchet-wheel removed, showing where the ratchet is attached to the pinion. Fig. 6 is a view of the ratchet-wheel.

Same letters indicate like parts in the several figures.

The nature of my invention consists of a cylinder, constructed with spikes on its surface, secured firmly on a shaft, which is connected to the driving-wheels by cogs or gearing, with ratchets working in ratchet-wheels, said ratchet-wheels being secured firmly on the cylinder-shaft at each end of the cylinder. Said ratchet is to prevent the aforesaid cylinde'r binding, and also to make either of the driving-wheels act independently of the other when backing, cramping, or turning, the said cylinder revolving the same way as the driving-wheels and several times faster than its natural speed would be, rolling over the ground, and thereby harrowing the land well, so as to cover the grain and make the land smooth and even bygoing once over it with cross-bars, arms, tongue, and box, each to perform their respective functions.

To enable those skilled in the art to make and use my invention, I will proceed to described its construction and operation. It may constructed part of wood and part of metal, or it may all be constructed ofv metal. I

A A are the driving-wheels, with the circumference rough or' notched to prevent said wheels from sliding when giving the required power to revolve the cylinder. Said Wheels are constructed with an inverted gear, as shown by the letter B in Figs. 3 and 4.

(l is the cylinder, constructed with a series of spikes or teeth on its surface.

D D are pinions on the cylindershaft at each end of the said cylinder, and mesh inthe inverted gear in the driving-wheels, said pin ions being loose, that they can revolve on the aforesaid shaft.

E E are ratchet-wheels, secured firmly on the cylinder-shaft.

F F are ratchets secured to the pinions. Said ratchets and ratchet-wheels connect the cylinder and pinions by the ratchets catching in the ratchet-wheels, and thereby preventing the pin-/ ions from turning loose on the said shaft, and. making said pinions revolve the cylinder when the machine is going forward, but permits the pinions to turn loose on the shaft when backing, and also the pinion connecting with the inner wheel when turning. The driving-wheel and pinion at one end of the cylinder operate independent of those at the other end of the said cylinder, and therefore make it impossible for the machine to bind in cramping or turnin g. The above-mentioned ratchets and ratchet-wheels are sunk their thickness into the pinion for the purpose of forming an even surface; but the pinion is constructed considerably thicker than the ratchet-wheel. Therefore the central part of the pinion extends to the cylindershaft,of sufficient thickness andstrength to hold it in its place on the oppositeside of the ratchet-wheel, as shown by the letter D in Fig. 4.

G is the pole by which the team is attached I to the machine.

H. H are arms running from the main cross bar down, with a series of holes in them, to which the pole is attached, said pole being at taehed either nearer to or farther from the cross bar, for the purpose of making the harrow work heavier or lighter on the land. Thus, if the pole be attached at the lowest hole, which is farthest from the center, the center shaft or cross-bar being the fulcrum for it to work on, it makes the barrow press heavieron the land; but if the pole be attached higher and nearer to the center, there is less strain over the fulcrum. Therefore the barrow works lighter on the land.

K is the box or rigging, shown by a back view in Fig. 2, and by the end view in Figs.3 and -.t is shown the edge of the said box. It is constructed ith a bend at I to form a seat when removing from place to place, said bend also forming an end board when the harrow is at '01 k, to prevent any substance that might be placed upon it (ifit should be necessary to place anything upon it to make it work heavier on the land) sliding forward of the center of the machine, said box having a bend at J, also for the purpose of carrying grain or-any other substance to the field when necessary.

Lisa catch on the box or rigging for the purpose of attaching said box down to the pole, and thereby raising the cylinder from the ground while the machine is removed from place to place, as shown in Fig. 4.

M M are the circle-plates, one of which is shown in Fig. 1 with a face view, and in Fig. 2 a view of the edges. These plates form a part of the driving-wheels, but do not revolve with the outer face and rim of the said wheels. The outside of said wheels have their axles on which they revolve in the center of the aforesaid circle-plates, and near the outer edge of these plates the cylinder-shaft has its bearings, revolving in said plates, and arranged in such a manner that it may be raised or lowered, (or it will raise itself should any obstruction be in its way when at work, and lower itself again immediately when it has passed over the obstruction,) and keep the pinions on the aforesaid cylindershat't in mesh with the inverted gear in the driving-wheels in any position in which the barrow can be placed. The aforesaid circle-plates also form face-plates to the inner side of the drivingwheels. Extending to the rim, they incase all the gearing in the said wheels, and thereby prevent anything getting into the gear to obstruct its operation.

N N is also a part in the center of the aforesaid circle-plates, as shown in Figs. 1, 3, and 4, which is constructed thicker than the other parts of the said plates for the purpose of giving them strength where the arbors or axles of the driving-wheels are attached to them, and

. also where the main crossbar is attached to the said plates.

0 O are the arbors or axles on which the driving-wheels revolve. Said arbors may be constructed with a screwon the inner ends, which screws firmly into the circle-plates with the heads outside of the driving-wheels, and connect the driving-wheels and circle-plates together; or said arbors may be made solid in the circle-plates and constructed with screws and nuts on the outside of the driving-wheels, atthe same time permitting the driving-wheels to revolve freely on the aforesaid axles, constructed either way; and their construction also gives case and facility in taking the wheels apart when it is necessary to get at their. internal arrangements.

P P P are bars extending across the machine between the circle-plates, and connect and hold said plates together, and also form a frame-work or bearing for the box or rigging to rest upon. There being no axle-tree running through this machine, the main or centralone of the cross bars P partially performs the office of an axle-tree by having the arm secured on it, to which the pole is attached. This said bar is placed forward of the center of the machine for two reasons. The first is it has a greater tendency to keep the cylinder to the ground, and the second is to afford greater ease and facility for taking the driving-wheels apart when it is ncedful to get at their inter-- nal arrangements.

To operate my machine, when you get into the field to be hat-rowed all you have to do is to loosen the catch H from the pole, which will let the cylinder to the ground. Then drive over the land to be harrowed, and the cylinder will revolve several times faster than its natural speed would be in rolling over the land, which will make my machine harrow the land better in going once over than the common harrow will in going several times over it, or at least save half the labor. You may also cramp or turn in any direction to get around a stump or any other great obstruction which should chance to be in the way, and the cylinder will keep revolving if either of the driving-wheels are moving forward; but any small obstruction the cylinder will raise over it of itself and lower itself again immediately on having passed over it, and also in the case of uneven land, where the driving-wheels may be on higher or on lower ground than the cylinder, it will not affect its operation, for the cylinder will adjust itself to the surface of the land over which it is passing.

In the old method of harrowing or dragging with either the three or four square barrow it is necessary to go three or four times over the same piece of land with a two-horse team, and thereby treading the land almost as solid as if it had never been plowed, except a little on the surface, while my improved harrow by going once over the land will crush the lumps and tear the sods, and leave the ground lively and light, with a beautiful even surface, giving the grain a chance for a healthy and vigorous growth.

I believe that every person that examines my improved harrow will be convinced of its superiority over the old barrow and of the great benefit that will accrue to the agricultural portion of our country by its bein g brought into general use.

I do not claim to be theinventorof inverted several parts of my revolving barrow, thegear, pinions, ratchet-wheels, ratchets, or a, whole being. arranged as described and set cylinder constructed with a series of spikes on forth, for the purpose specified. its surface, for-I am aware these have long GARBET J. OLENDORF. been in common use; but; Witnesses:

What I claim is SAMUEL HARPER, I v The construction and combinaticn' of the WASHINGTON G. SMITH. 

